Darren Baker takes a look at the latest offering in the M3 line from MiniArt with an Australian M3 Lee with interior in 1/35th scale.

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Great review as always Darren. Steven Zaloga's Osprey book on the M3 indicates that 757 M3s were shipped to Australia, of which 238 were Lees.Interestingly, he indicates that the later Lees without the side doors were regarded by the Australians as defective for jungle fighting and at one stage were looking at rebuilding them with side doors. It would appear that very few were used in combat, and they were kept in Australia to meet a perceived threat in New Guinea.They did receive some unique modifications which were based on a combination of 8th Army and Burma experience

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Darren Baker takes a look at the latest offering in the M3 line from MiniArt with an Australian M3 Lee with interior in 1/35th scale.

Read the Review

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

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Darren, the M3's were NOT transferred from British stock and were purchased directly from US stock. This is a long held myth that will not die. Australia received both Grants and lee's in about equal numbers for Petrol variants and another third as Diesels (Grants) and covering almost all variants except the cast hull. They had modifications for Australian service including a Drivers periscope and a number of other changes like radios etc (not catered in the kit as it has the US interior Radio) . Roughly a third (200+) Lee's were received in the M3 orders by 42. 3 Australian M3 saw service all being Diesel Grants fitted with dozers in the Dutch East indies in 45. The M3's that fought against the Japanese in Burma were mainly Lee's and used by British and Indian regiments of the 14th Army. This kit is a really good starting point for such a vehicle with most of the unique Stowage required and the low profile cupola. Post war the M3's were refurbished and equipped the CMF (Reserves) alongside matildas


Al

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Darren Baker takes a look at the latest offering in the M3 line from MiniArt with an Australian M3 Lee with interior in 1/35th scale.

Read the Review

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

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Darren, the M3's were NOT transferred from British stock and were purchased directly from US stock. This is a long held myth that will not die. Australia received both Grants and lee's in about equal numbers for Petrol variants and another third as Diesels (Grants) and covering almost all variants except the cast hull. They had modifications for Australian service including a Drivers periscope and a number of other changes like radios etc (not catered in the kit as it has the US interior Radio) . Roughly a third (200+) Lee's were received in the M3 orders by 42. 3 Australian M3 saw service all being Diesel Grants fitted with dozers in the Dutch East indies in 45. The M3's that fought against the Japanese in Burma were mainly Lee's and used by British and Indian regiments of the 14th Army. This kit is a really good starting point for such a vehicle with most of the unique Stowage required and the low profile cupola. Post war the M3's were refurbished and equipped the CMF (Reserves) alongside matildas


Al

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Al: I have no way to verify the information you have provided as my reference clearly indicates that these where from British stock that was no longer needed due to Sherman production and British tank production. With that said what you say does make more sense as altering tanks you have would seem a waste and by the time these mods were introduced units were equipped with other vehicles.